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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (July 19, 1896)
P " " " ' " " " ' [ . . " 1 IfyBp"1 10 OMAHA DATLYj "dnSTU : SUNDAY , JULY 19 , 1800. xx. LOUD AVON. My uncle was an Impassive man by nature and hail ) ccomo more so by thu trailltlon of tlio society In which ho lived He could Imvo turned a card upon which his fortune depended without the twitch of n muscle. and I had seen him no self driving to Im minent death on the Godstone road with as calm n fare as If he were out for his dally alrliiR In the Mall Ilul now the shock which had come upon him was so great that ho could only stand with white cheeks and staring. Incredulous cjcs Twice 1 saw him open his lips , and twice he put his hand up to his throat as though a barrier had risen betwixt himself and his utterance , finally ho took a sudden little run forward with both his hands thrown out In greeting "Nid. " he tried Hut the strange man who stood before him folded his arms over his brtast. "No , Charles " said he My undo stopped and looked at him In ama7cmcnt "Surely , Ned , you have a greeting for mo after all these jears " "You believed me to have done this deed , Charles I read It In your cjes and In your manner on that tcirlblo morning. You never asked mo for an explanation You never considered how Impossible suc.li a crime mint be for a man of my character At the first breath of suspicion you , m > Intimate friend , the man who knew mo best , set me down as a thief and a murderer. " "No , no , Ned " "You did , Charles I read It In jour eyes And so It was that when I wished to leave that which was ilmst precious to mo in safe hands 1 had to pass you over and to place him In the charge of the one man wlto from the first never doubted my In nocence Better a thousand Units that my son should be brought up In a humble sta tion and In Ignoiance of his unfortunate father than that he should learn to share the doubts and auspicious of his equals ' "Then lie Is really > our son1" cried my uncle staring at Jim In amazement Tor answer the man stretched out his long withered arm and placed a gaunt hand upon the shoulder of the nctic-bs , while she looked up at him with love In her ejes "I married , Charles and I kept It secret from m > friends for 1 had gone to the stage for my wife You Know the fooll-jli pride which has always boon the strongest part of my nature I could not bear to avow that which I had done It was this neglect upon my part which led to an estrangement be tween us , and drove her Into habits for which It Is I who am to blame , and not she. Yet , on account of these same habits , I took the child fiom her and gave her an allowance on condition that she did not In terfere with It I had feared that the boy might receive evil from hei , and had nevei dreamed In my blindness that she might get good from him Hut I have learned i In my miserable life Cl-ailes , that there- Is a power which fashions things for us , though we may strive to thwart it , and that wo are In truth driven ban unseen current toward a certain goal , however much v\e may deceive ourselves Into think ing that It Is out own nails and oin > which ure speeding us upon out way " My ey s had been upon the fnco of my : i uncle ah he listened , but now as I tumid them from him they fell once more upon the thin , Jwilflsh face of Sir Lothian Hume | Ho stood noir Hie window , h's gray silhouette thrown up against the square of dusty glass | and I ha.ve never been sueh a pi ly of evil. passions , of anger , of Jealoiuy , of disap pointed gieecl , upon a human face. "Am I to unleistand. " said he , In a loud , harsh \olce , "that this young limn claims to be the heir of the peerage of Avon ? " "lie Is mj la , v fill son " Tknevv you fairly well , sir. In our youth , but you will allow me to observe that neither I nor any friend of jours uvei heard of a wife or son I defy Sir C'hailes Tregellis to say that he over dreamed that there was any heir except myself " " 1 have already explained , Sh Lothian , whj I kept my marrlige secret " "You have explained , sir but It Is for others In another plnee to t > ay If that ex planation Is satisfactory " Two blazing clarK ejes Hashed out of the pale , haggard fnca with as strange and sud den an effect as If n stream of light weie to boat thiaugh the windows of n shattered and ruined house. "You dare to doubt my word. ' " "I demand moot" "My word Is proof to those who know " we "Kxcuso me. Lord Avon , but I know you , and I sec no reason why 1 should accept your statement. " It was a brutal upc-eeli and biutally de livered Lord Avon staggcied forward , and It was on ! ) his son on onu bide and his wlfo on the other who kept his quivering hands from thu throat of his liihulter. Sir Lothian recoiled from the pale , ( lercu face with the black blows , but he btlll glared angrily about the room "A vciy pretty conspiracy this" lie uled , "with a criminal , an actress and a prlre lighter , all playing theli parts Sir Charles Trtgellls , jou shall hear fiom mo again' "IMPLORING SIK TO SPARK HIM. " And you , also , luy lord ! " He turned on his bed nnd left the loom "Ho lias goiiu to drnnunco me , " said Lord Avon , a ttpaam of wounded prlclu distorting bis features "Shall 1 bring him back7" cried Hey Jim"No "No , no let him go U la as well for I have already made up my mind that my duty to you , my BOH. outweighs that which I o\\c , and have at such bitter cost ful- fllledj to my brother and my family. " "You did me an Injustice ) , Ned , " said my undo , "If you thought that I hail forgotten 7011 or thut I bad Judged you unkindly. If over I have thought that you had done this elcoiland ho\v could I doubt the evidence ol my own ccs-I have always believed that It waa at a flmo when jour mind vvaa un- lilnsi'd , und when you know no more of what yon vu'in nbout thnn the innii who Is walk ing In bU sleep. " "What do jou mean when you talk about the evidence ! of your own c-yesT" usked Lord A vou , looking hold at my uuele , "I suvv you Ned , upon that accursed nlcht " ' f-avv moYlurcT" ' In the pamuhc " " \nd doing what' " "Vtu vvtre couilnj ; from your brotbsr'i room I bad heard his voice raised In anger and In only an Instant before You carried In jour hand a bag full of money , and your fnrn l > otrnypd the- utmost agitation If you can but piplaln to mo , Ned , how jou came to IIP there , you will lake from my hcirt n weight which has pressed upon It for all these yenta " No one- now would have recognized In my uncle the tnnn who was thn leader of nil thp fops ot London In the prcucnce of thlo old friend and of thu tragedy which girt him round the vrll of trlvlillty nnd affectation had been rent and I felt all in ) Kratltudi- towaid him deepening for the first time Into affection while I watched his pale riik- tous face and thu eacer hope which iliono In Ills eyes as IIP n waited his friend's ex planation Lord Avon sank bis face In his hands and for t few moments there was nlle-ncp In t'ie ' > dim gray room "I do not wonder now that you were shaken , ' said he at last ' Mv Oed wlnl a net waa cant round me' Had this vile charge been ( nought against me you. my dearist friend would have been lompi'iid to tear away the last doubt ns to i.iy guilt And vet In spite of what vou have seen Charles I am ns Innocent In the matter as you me " "I thank Gcd that 1 hcai you say so " "Hut you are not satisfied , Charles I can read It on jour face You wish to know why an Innocent man should conceal himself for all these years " "Your weld Is enough foi me , Ne-d but the world will wish this other question an ew prod nlin " "It was to savethe - family honor , Charles You know how dear It waa to jne. I pollld not clear my self without proving m\ brother to have been guilty of the foulest crime Lothian Hume H waa his despairing cry when hp found that I WR * proof against all hla entreaties which rt-achetl your ears , Charles nnd caused you to open your chr tuber door and to SPO mo as I returned to rny room " My uncle drew a long breath of relief "Nothing could be clearer' " ho murmured "In thp morning I came ns you remember , to your room , ami I returned your money. 1 did thp samp to Sir Lothian Hume I said nothing of in ) reason lor doing so for I found that I roulel not bring myself to con fess our disgrace to you Then eamc the hoirlbln dHcovci ) which linn darkened in ) ifp and will , h was r great n mjslrry to nu ns It has 1 pen to you I siw that I was suspected nn 1 I aw nlso that OVPII If I were to Hear myself It could only be done by a publk co'ifefslon of the Infamy of my brothci 1 shrank form It , Charles Any lierpoiml MtHirlmi teemed to me to IIP better than to brli public chame upon n family which IIDS h'lcl nn untarnished record through so many ccnturlis I fled from my trial therefore , and disappeared from the wor ! I "Hut , first of all It was necessary that I should make ariniigeincnta for the- wife nnd son of whose existence you nnd my other frlcnrls were Ignorant It Is with shame , Mary , that I confess It , and I acknowledge lei vc < u that the btanip of rM tl'e 'r < - sequences rests vvllh me rather than wll'i jou , At the lime thcie vveio u-ascjiH , iio > / harplly lung gona past , which mudo no determine that fie sou VVHE better apart fiom HIP mother whose nl retire nt that age- he would not miss I would have taken jou Into my confidence. Charles , had It not been ll'at j-otir suspicion i lad wounded n.e drcplj. for I did rot nt that time uncle r- utriiil hov\ strong the leacons weie which hid prejullcccl jcu agilnst me "On the evening alter the tragedy I lied to London , nnd arranged that my w Ifo should have a fitting nllowrncc PH eou- dlll'ii that she did not interfere with tl'e child I had , as yru icmembci , had iiuih to do with Harrison , the prl/e flghtrr , an 1 I had often hud ctcaalcn to ndmlie his slmiln , and honest niUuie I took my boy to him nov , , nnd I found him , ns I expected , In- ctudulous ns to my guilt and rcaclv to resist mo In any wnAt his wife's entreaty he had Just rrtire-1 fiom the rli'i ; , and was uu- coitaln how ho should employ himself I ( i \Xrt .iX | W F T1 ifV r-'r / Ji > i / / ' ) / / ' . -J w VIM wi1 ( y / \ \ / k ) LJls > > lJf / LORD AVON STAGGKRCD PORVv'ARI ) . which a gentleman coulel commit Toi eigh teen jeaia I have scieened him at the o\- penso of everything which n man could sacrifice I have lived a living death , whi 'i lus left me an old .mil shattered imn , vihen I .1111 but in my 10th year Hut now , viini I aip faced with alteinative of tellm- ; thu facts about m/ brother 01 of v. ron' 'Mg my bon , I can on ! ) ' act In one fashion . .nd the morn so alnce I have leason lo hope that a way may be found by v hlch wl.at 1 am now about to disclose to you need never come to the public eai " He rose finri his cl-air , and. leaning heavily upon his two supporters be totUiod across the- room to the dust-covcicd sld1- board Thoie in the center of it v aj lylii'4 that Ill-boding pile of tlmc-stalncd mildewed cards just as Hey Jim and I had a cn them jeais before Lord Avon tinned them ovei with trembling fingers and then picking up half a do7en , ho brought them to my uncle " 1'lico your Huge n. thumb ui on the Icft-b.mil bottom cornel of tbla card Charles , " Slid he"Pass them lightly back ward and forward , and tell me what you feel " "It has been pricked with a pin" "Picclscly What is the card' * My uncle turned It over. "It Is the- king of clubs. " ' "Iry the bottom coinei of this one. " "It Is finite smooth " "And thu caul la ? " "llio three1 of spades " "And thla one ? " "It hab been pricked Iti \ the ace of he-aita " Lord Avon hurled them down upon the floor "There you have the whole accursed atoiy , " lie cried "Need I go further , wheie every word Is agony' ' " "I see something , but not all You must continue , Ned " The frail llgura stiffened itself as though ho were visibly bracing himself for nn ef fort "I will tell you , then , once and forever Never again , I tiust , will It bp neccssiry for mo to open my lips about the mlbcrable business You remember our game. You remember how wo lost You remember how you all retired and left me sitting In thla very room and at that veiy table Kar from being tired I was exceedingly wakeful , and I remained here for an hum or more , thinking over the Incidents of the game and the changes which it promised to bring about In my fortunes. I had , as you will recollect , lost heavily , and my only con volution was that viy own brother had won I knew that owing to his rickless mode of life ho wag firmly In the- clutches of tlm Jews , and I hoped that that which had shaken my position might have the effect of restoring hla Aa I i > at there , fingering tlio carda in an abstracted way , some chance- led mo to observe the small needle pricks which you have Just felt I went over the paekb and found to my unspeakable horror that any one who vvaa In the scciet could hold them In dealing In aucli u way as to bo able to count the exact number of high carda which fell to each of his opponcnU And then with such a flush of sliamo and Idsgust aa I had never known I reinem- burocl how my attention had been drawn to my brothers mode of dealing , Its slow ness , and the way In which ho held each card by the lower coiner "I did not condemn him precipitately I sat for a long time calling to my mind every Incident which could tell ono way or the other Alas' it uU went to confirm mo In my first horrible suspicion , and to turn It into a certainty My brother had ordered the packs from Le-dburj's In Hond street They had been for gome hours in his chambers Ho had played throughout with a decision which had surprUed ua at Iho Hint ) Above all , I could not conceal from inself that his paat life waa not aucli aa to make even so abominable a crime aa this impossible to him Tingling with anger and shame , I went straight up that stair , the cards In my hand , and I taxed him with Oils lowest and meanest of all the Crimea to which a villain could deacon ! , , "Ho had not retired to rest , and nla Ill- gotten gains were spread out upon thoduaa- lug table. I hardly know what I said to him , but the facta were so deadly that ho did not attempt to deny hla guilt You will remember aa the only mitigation of hla crime that he VVBB not yet ono-and-twenty years ot ago My words overwhelmed him , lie went on hta kneea to me , Imploring rnu to eparo him. T told him that out of con sideration for our family I nhould make no public exposure of him , but that he must never again In his life lay hla hand upon a card , and that the money which he had won must bo returned next morning to my guests with an explanation. It would bi social ruin , he proteitrd , I answered thai lie must take the consequences of his ovvt : deed Then and there I burned the piperi which he bad won from me , and I replace * In a canvas bag which lay upon the table ul the Hold pit-res. I would have left the roan without another word , but IM clung to me and tore the ruffle from my wrUt in hla at tempt to hold me back and to prevail upoi mo to promise to lay nothing to you or Sti v PS able to fit Mm up ns n snltb on ecu- ditlcn fiat he cl ould plj' hl3 tii-elo at the vil'.i c of ril.ii'b Oak My agi cement v HE t'oat James wi-s to te brought up m tluli noplc. . and that ho should Know notliijr of 'is inis : ' " ' rricnls "lou will LS ! ' menv 1 scle"te 1 Till.- . Oak I1 VVPS bccat se 1 had aliejatlv clius'n ir * > place of eoiicialmcnl , and if 1 coald no ace my boj. it w&a at li-rat somu cons 'Inu i to know tlnit ha VV.B near ii c \vJ .re 1 AW a re tlist this ma.islon Is me o * llio ol Ua In Knglpnd , but vou Lie not aw pic- that I bis been built -vlth r very soeMal c-jo Ic concealment , th t thereuie no Irsi Iran two habitable secret chap bers anl ihnt t.n oJlcr or O'lci.cr wa'ls tro tuiri < lfl l In pi3i,2ges 1h" evU.ten.u o' thibe 10311.lia alwajs been a family ac-cut , thout.li it v as , one wl Ich I valued 1.0 little liiat it v ns ei.ily tl.p r'lfliioo of niv e > olilniii usln ; ; t".i house -vhicb 1-nd proventrcl HIP from pell' Ins them out to some friend Mow I fin i that a secure ictreat wrs ptoviiiwl for ne in my extremity. I stole dev n to riv o , n inuiaion , entered it at nljjlit , and icavhu all that win dear to mo brhlntl , I ciept li'vc a rat behind the wainscot to IKo out Uc icmplndci of riv.earv life in solitude ri. . misei ) In this worn face Charles Eli' ' ! In this giiz lcd heir you may lead the dlaiv of my most miserable existence "Onco .1 we1 Hcirlson rss 1 to biln ; ft up nrovlsions passing them through il-e i.intiy window , wMch I left onen for that nirpose f-omctlmcb I would ste.il out at ilsH and valk under to strta once mo-c - ! tl < the cool breeze upon my forehead , but his I had at last to slop , for I was scin by l-o rustlco nnd Illinois of a spirit nt ClITi AOJPI began to get about. One nlqlil I c ' 1-oot hunters " "Jt was I. fathei , " cried Uov Jim , "I and iij friend , Itodncj Ftoue " ' 1 Know It was Harrison told me in he same nlirht 1 was proud. Jamrs tr see < hat > ou had the spirit of the Hnrrlng- ons and that I bid an heir whose Dalian r. , night icdecm the fnnilU blot which I had > trlvcn so hard to cover ovei Then cairc tlio day when jour mother's Kindness hr mistaken kindness gave yoj the means of escaping to London. " "Ah , Uelward , " fried his wife , "If you : iad aeen om boy , like a caged eagle beating against the bars , you would have helped to Ive him even so shoit a flight a this ' "I do not blame ou , Maiy It la pos jlc that I should He went to London and 10 tiled to ojcn a career for himself by : iia own strength nnd courage How mr.ny of our nnccatoia have done the same- , save only that u aword hilt lay In their closed lianda , but of them nil I do not know that any liavo carried thenuelves more- gal lantly " That I dare aw car , " said my uncle , heartily 'And ' when Harrison at last returned I learned that my son was actually matched to fight In a public prize battle Tlut would : iot do , Charles ! It was ono thing to light .13 you and I have fought In our -vouth , and It vvaa another to compete for a purbo of sold " "My dear friend , I would not for the world " Of course vou would not , Charlca You chose the best man , and how could you do otherwise' Hut It would not do1 I deter mined that the time had come when I should love-al myae-lf to my bon. the more so ua there were many slgna that my most un natural existence 1-ail seriously weakened my health Chance , or shall I not rather nay Providence had at last made clear all that had been dark , and given mo the me-ans of establishing my Innoionco My wlfo went yesterday to bring niv bov at last lo the bldo of hla unfortunate father " There WUH alienee for some time , and then It waa my uncle's volcei which broke It "You've been the most lll-ui > e < l man In the world , Ne-d , " said lie "IMeaso God wo shall have many years yet In which to make up to you for It Hut. after all , It scema to me that wo are as far aa ever from learning hon your unfortunate brother met his death " "Por eighteen years It was as much a m > s- tery to me as to you , Charles Hut now , at last , the guilt is manifest Stand forward , Ambrose , and tell your story as frankly and a& fully as you Uavo told It to mo , " CHAI'THR XXI , Tlin VALET'S STORY. The valet had shrunk Into the dark cornel ot tlio room , and had remained so motion' less that we had forgotten his presence , until upon this appeal from hU former master he took a step forward Into the light , turning his sallow face in our direction Ills usual ! ) liupagslvo features were In a state of palufu ! agitation , anil he spoke slowly and wltl hesitation , as though his trembling lip : could hardly frame the words. And yet , si strong Is habit , that even In this oxtromlt ! of emotion he assumed the deferential al of the high class valet , and his sentence ; formed themselves In the sonorous faabloi which'had struck my attention upon tba first day when the curricle of my uncle liac stopped outside ray lather's eloor. r "My Lady Avon and gentlemen , " said he. "If r ha\o''sihned In this matter , and I Irecly confess tMi ? 1 have done so , I only know one way Ift vJhlch I can alone for It. and thai Is by rnAkhtg the full anil complete con- fcsslon wWN my noble master , Lord Avon , has ilcnMhrttil I assure you , then , that what I am'Abbut ' to tell jou , surprising ns It may seem ; N the absolute and undeniable truth conrpnting the mysterious death of Captain Ikirrlngton "It mnv nim Impossible to you that one In my hilnibir walk of life should bear a deadly nnel Tmplacablo hatred against a man In the poaltlon ot Captain Harrington You think tli.-Hi tile gulf between us Is too wide I can tell van gentlemen , that the gulf that can Jbi' bridged by unlawful love can bo spanned i also liy an unlawful hatred , and that upon I IIP day that this voting man stole from me all that made m > life worth living I vowed to hrnveti that 1 should take from him thai foul life of his , though the drcd would cover but HIP tiniest fraction ot the debt vvhltli he owed me I sec- that you look askance at me. Sir Charles Tregellis. but vou should pray to God. sir. that you may nc-ver have the chance of finding out what vou would yourself be capable of In the same position " U vns i wondpr to all o' UH to SPC this man's firry nature breaking sii'ldp.ily th ougi the artificial constraints with which he IK lei It In che-ek Ills short , dark hair seomrd to bristle upwud , his cjes glowed with the Intensity of bis passion , nnd his face ex pressed a mallcnlty of hatred A hlch neither the death of his enemv nor the Inose of years could mltUntc The cl mure servant vns go'io nnd there stoil In his i lace n dciv mil dingeious tiinn one who might be nn nrdcnl lover or n most vindictive foe ' We wrrp about to be married she and I when none black chancethiew him actem our lath I do not 1 now by what base de ception he lurei1 hci away from me1 1 live In-ird tl at flio wrs cnly one of many and that lie v as an rdipl at tin * nit It was done before eve'r 1 knew the danger an 1 she wrs lift v Ith her broken heart and her ruined iifo to icturn to tlml 1 omo into v hlch the hnii bioiifehl displace nnd mlEtry I only sahi r once Phe told me Hut 1 er bndiircr bad burst out a-laughlng when nhn Ind reproacl'ed him for Us perfelj , nnd I swoie to her Mint lls 1 enrt's blood v.ould pay ma for that 1-iugh "I WPS na' > t at the lime , but 1 was not ) ct In tte service of Lord AVCM I applied for and gal-cl Hint position with He ono Idea that It mtjht nlvc me an uppoi tun of sett iz i wiy ncco mts with hla jo'tn ci brother . 'ml chance . ' yet my v.m n tinib'y long lull1 con Ins. fcv i.i.ny months had pcsscd -fore I the vlt.lt to CIl.To Kojal pa c- me tic o'lnortunily vvhlc'i 1 1011,71 d fc. by iii-y fli'l enipiicd cjf bj nl-hl \ \ l.cn It dll come , Iruove It cftn.iIn a faulilon vvh.oli was MO. e favoiable to i ly plans than anjlhlng i ! t I bid ever vcntuied to hope far , -j 'lord Avc.i TUJ of o ] Inloa Hint iu one but hliroelf ' 1 aew of the scorct i r.ssaps _ In CltfTo Itoyal' ' In Ibln Ic vyra mtatikui. 1 Knew of tl , jii i r ft lust I knew euough o llie.i IOE ; IV.P mpui. . e I need not tell ) iti tcv. cnc diy , Tcu ' prcpailni ; tl-e cfc m'eri It r tUo tJistu , ri arcllcnt.'l prtv 11,10 xii'.n jcT't of tl c IHItngr i. i ted a prnel to gap" ij ; lke \ oo-Uvoik : rl shtnve-,1 mo a l-Miov. oictnus l'i the v all MuKlus my v ay e own 11.13 I foun 1 tl.it .injllicr pr.ni-l 'oil Into aSaar ei lirdrao. i bcvo 11 That was nil I SJiei , . but It s 11 that v.-as riv.'cl for ST piirnso The disposal cf tl'e 100 na ltd 4 cn lilt in n y lianas , nn 1 1 1 cd riu tTriJ"-1at | ] rppll i 4 T' ii tou should B'OC ' i in IticIJirsci inl I in th BinaPcr I cr.u' \ com ui on 1 iii v Kn I v.ibhed , r.nd > i > our -.wcltil ,1 e tlio. wispi "And tJ S.a herilived Ho v cn 1 dc3"ilce to ) ou Do"fncr o' Impatience i-i . ! loll I HvcJ i \ \ nIhe moi-icnt should co-re aoi whicl- l.aij "s ! 'icl i nd Tinnneil' ' Foi o nijli * nn I-Uny Ifciy KJiible-1 ail for a nl nt .nJ n dr 1 jou'Ue11 the minutes wli'-h ' l'i ' > nglit ler ni-a'ci to my is : ' ) Tl'cy nls * ling io.ffrc-T ( wme at T.bt.t hoar ttoy li'.cl ' , thc'v ) t Iwaya fo n 1 me wnltlii. ; rn1 ! icseh. sr lhal tl Is joum crplain bjo- ce. ' led out lift 1 v u Hi" 1110 JrJ * of- * all vikts My nvstei ndv see ! n n to.go to I1 i Foihi-ci ncttred my f&np 1 cl.vcK rlii ! i / 1 il/JitiltJeSl.1 n 1 li- s-1 m do vn'td bcl'ig i-i a fi" e7 co I was Lot t \ ata tevei wh'i-h nly onu rr'ieinc ion'1 ' . bS.U'ge 'liirn ftt-lcrt civ car y i ) tie ! mcrnl.m t 1 ci-.TUqiJ | ibins'.i b.irV fit Ir cl nlri Ji'nJI I iii.tK ; flb'uyj'fji Ktrpv I'tid tt last'fSiivr to rn cnl1' ' Vt'btn I cr.tp-ed llvo roqpij. tc. i . -ei o , i ) oiilprs I fo "i 1 thot Cipt-jl" r-niig on li , d filrca.'y it-i'-ib'i-d oT ! ta b--il T-P ollf'3 1. ' a'so irlirpJ on 1 uiy ma' fi " .3 alii1 is pic lie fit the tibli v.ilii nh e-iirty 1 it 11" fiitl the bcntte cd caiils in fruit of Mm Hiordeir ! ro angrily to ntj inora and tils lime I obced him "Mv ( list care < ta to provide injsclf " . Vie prn 1 1 new tl > rt If I were fpco to free v Ith Mai 1 could tcrr Ma thrint out but I n Ubt to ciraifge I'ict He foahlun o * h's desl'i ' pl-ojll bo a nos"lfis ! OHP 'ihcrc v si . bunting tronli ) in the l-ill nil f-ou P I took sirrlgl't l-rpvv i-iifo. \ blch I 3hniprncl up-"i my b ot Then I stole t" iry icciii . id cat v.rltlii- | en tl'e side of my bed I liiHl n-alc in ) iry mini v hat I Fl"--il 1 do TItr-p woull be little satisTnc tion In 1 Illlni : him if be WES not to knnv v l"i o I nd 'al atiucit 11 _ Mo or v/bich ii his K ns it ? amo to .v cnge Could I but 'In ' 1 1 1m ml ras 1 In I" Ms eliiinken &ICPP then a prick or two of my dagger vvo'ile' Eiouse him to llstci ter what I had to JF/ to Mm I pictured the look in hit ovis ti the i ayci of .sleep clcare > d slowly ar.y fiom them , the look of pngir turnliuj ' - dpnly to btorV boircr na be undertm ] who ' I v.n's end what I l-n 1 conip for H vvojl.l LP the si'nrcme inoiunt of i.iy life "I waited us It sccmid to me foi at k-nbt mi hoih , lut I hud no watch tinel iry Ini- patlencf wai such tint I elnro tay It leally v as little mote thin n quarter cf that Hire Then I rose , removed my shoes took my knife' , nnd hiving opened HIP panel h'lppcd s'lrntly ' thiniish It vvrs not more- thin II tity feet that I had lo go , but I went Im h by lnc1for HIP old lotlcn beards snarpid like bieaklnc twigs If a sudden vvelfM v.as placed upon HiPin It was , cf ceurue pitch dnik mil veiy vciy Klowl/ ft-lt in/ way rlons At lost I H Va yollovv Minn of light Kllmmcrln 'n front of n e' nnd I knew Hint It came from HIP nthei panel It was too socncfi s.'nco ' 1-c bud not ex'lngulshcd bis candles I hud waited mrny mcnths , and I could afford to wait another hour , foi I dll not wish to do anything pieclpltotcly 01 in n bun : . "It was vciy necessary to moveullently now , sinceI was within n few feet of my num. with eyily the thin wooden partition between Age had waipi-d and crucl.cd the boarilH bo " ' -.it when 1 ' 'ad at last very stealthily ciept my way as far na the slid ing panel I found that I could , without any difllcult ) , ace into Ihei 11.0111 , Captain Hai- itngton'was standing by the drihblng table , with Us coat and vest otf. A laigo pile of Eoveiclgns and "several nllis ; of paper weio lylni ; before ! him , and he was counting over his gambling gains Ills face was flush"d nnd' ho \\-air hoavv from want of sleep and vvUic-x It rejoiced mo to see it , for It incaut. ( h t , his slumber would be deep , and that'flV W'W ' 'to ' ' "ado cosy feu me I vas dtil vOitcblng htm v.hen , of a BIK- don I sawUiljnjHl.irt and a terrible expres sion como-Jipou bis face For an Instant my heart stood still , for I feari'd that lie bud In some way dl\3nrd my pipscnee And then I heard the- voice of my master within I could not see the door by which ho had entered , nor eoul I I BCC him where he stood , but I heard all that lie had to bay As I watched the captain's face flushed fiery red and then Uirni'i ' " Hv'd ' white as ho listened to those bltu-r words which told him of Ills infamy , fi > y 'revenges was sweeter far swieter tinn' | my moat pleasant dreama had ever b twrocl It I saw my master aj - proacli thu dressing table , hold the papers In the flahte At the candle , throw their charred aal s"lnto the grate , and sweep the go' Oen nlfcc5e's'Illito u small , brown canvas bag TliPtiJ'as BO turned to leave the room , the captain' ' sefird him by the wrist. Implor ing him bj ° the1 memory of their mother to have mercy upon him , and I loved my master as I uaw him drag his sleeve from the grasp of the clutching fingers and Icavo the stricken wretch grovelling upon the floor "And now I was left with a difllcult point to settle , for It was hard for mo to say whether It was better that I should do that which I had come lor or whether by hoU- liiB this man's guilty secret I might not have In my ban3 a keener and more deadly weapon than mv master's hunting knife. I was sure that Lord Avon could not and would not expose him. I knew your r.ense. of family pride too well , my lord , and I was certain that his secret Has safe Ir. your hands , Hut I both coul 1 and would , and then when his life had been b.tttcd and ho had been hounded from hU reclmcul and from his clubs. It would be time , p iliapr , lor mo to deal In some o'hpr way with him , " "Ambrose , you are a black villain , " said ray uncle. ( To bo Continued ) GRIDIRON RAG" A Slory of Spanish Directed Against Uncle Sam. IIY I1HKNAN ( fop ) r-lsht 1V ! In s S MrriiirrCompiim ) A gioup of stern-faced men stood In the American > lce consul's olllco at Murcla Without , In the streets of the dingy little Spanish city , crowds of howling students and enraged laboring folk paraded to and fro. As jet the storm was but beginning and the police were able to repress any open nets of violence Hut who could prophesy what might happen later In the day , when the mob was reinforced by hordes of peas antry from the surrounding villages and by the reckless men ami women of the cigarette1 factories' The supposed sjinpathy of the I nlted States with struggling Cuba had filled Spain with Indignation , and In every town from Hlspay to the1 Mediterranean angry meetings were held and Insults hurled nt thu resident Ainei leans In Murcla is peclallj , the feeling was Intense ! ) bitter "My friends" said the \lce consul , "we 1'nve a haul day before us Little or no pi election can be hoped for at the hands of tie authorities Tim mob Is Increasing every moment and before nlghfall I should not be surpilsed If they attacked the con sulate " "Heath to the Americans' " i oared the ntudontH lu the street "Down with the gridiron Hag1 lov n with the stars and Ettlpes ! " And the approvlatlvo crowds took up thiso cries v Ith groins nncl hooting Major Tnlcott , a grnjlmlrodotoraii of the civil war , long resident lu Murclt , in- terod hurriedly lit this Juncture , his little Jack , as he sprang up thp steps , and shot back a l-olt which fastened the door The next mlniilo his eves opened wide and liln lips emitted an Involuntary whistle Per he stood on thc broad , Hat roof of the building , with all Murcla and Its seething population npread map like below The Hu ron r. unbroken by brick and stucco now nsconded In nil Its hideous clearness to his attentive ears Here and there the soihJot niearms rang out above the general clui SPANISH \VHA1II "Down with the vice consul1 Death to the Americans' Hum the 'gridiron rng'1 Long live Spain nnd death to Cuba nnd Uncle Sam' ' ' Such were a few of Ihe shouts that thundered upwards tn the sunlit root , de serted save by olio hilght-eye-d llttlo Yan kee. kee.Jack Jack ntepppd forward , and carefully ' -losPel the house door behind him "I'm going to have a look nt those lei- Iowa , " be said. Hut as he faced toward the parapet of the loof. a sight met his ujcs which sent thu blood In a git at tush to Ills head there waving Indolently in the warm southern wind hung the meteor folds of the very rnslgn which the Spanish mob hootut nnd Insulin ! , the stars and stripes of bis father land' "Tho ling1" gasped Jnclt. "They have foigotten It down atalre * * Perhaps those fellows In the street will try to get It down " At this all thought of the women's quar ter left him Ills bounden duty , ho felt like- the llttlo patriot he was , forced him to . v/- * ' * ' * - fc c-- r v - > - Zcvtf ; 5 $ o&i A . v "HOORAY roil AMniucA , " crtinn JACK son trotting resolutely by Ills s'de- ' "Nsrrov s-scppe , gentlenit-n ' panted the iiiijor , ' those ckmens pursued me for fl.c blocks I had to clraw i.iy le.olver at last , c. ' Jack and I should never have reached he t1 " ' It ban como lo that then , already , Grimly icmaiUed the vice- consul "Well v.o . > fo ore pared for 'cm * * Suppose you rend your son upstalts Major Talcott ilie ladies and chllditn are all comfortably clt'.Urcil In raj \.ifes looms" ilo tcais sprang unbidden Into little Jack Talcott B eyes "Dm t send mo upstairs , dad , he im plored , "I ve- Lot a gun , and can fight just as v.cll ts any man ' Major Taleolt looked Irresolute , but the " v.ce "ecnsul answered for him My 1 ny , " lie t-.ild , lindly. but firmly , 'I rm commanding here This Is no place for bcijS , an 1 you must go upstair. ) " Tark looked nt bis father , but the major only shook his head. Then , seeing that tl'frc was no help for It , he tuined regict- fiill ) out of the loom , fingering as he went the binnd new revohei which he had pur chased lor the occasion UP Tlin WHONG WAY "It's a blmme , " ho soliloquized on the bioad stone staliwuy "not to give a folio * a chance to tl ht for hla country Dae ! was a drummer boy In thewai when ho was very little- older than I .11.1 1 don't want to be cooped up with a lot of women and "SAORAMnNTO , " EJACULATED TIHJ CLIMHKH. children * * Just I'8'011 ' ' to tlloso fcl" lows outside ! Wouldn't 1 like lo have a go In the street the students and an aimj of cigarette makers were singing an up- roaroua sons , In which all norts of terrible things were threatened agalntt the United State * and the "gridiron tag" an they were pleased to call the stars and utrlpea Jack bad picked up plenty of colloquial Spanish , as small boys so situated will do and not an allusion or lusult In the ribald chorus escaped him. youth's page ad "the gridiron rag" " 'Gridiron rag' Indeed1" ho muttered "I'el Just llko to make those fellows fry on tl-at gridiron. Hullo ; where am I ? " This exclamation was caused by the lad that the boy had taken a wrong turning In the great , old fashioned vice consulate , and now found himself on a wooden staircase leading straight upward to n close * ! door heavily clamped vvltb Iron "This can't be tUo women's quailer , " alel stand b/ that flag , and to piotcct It , If need be. wi'h ' Ma life "I'm not sorry now , " he thought , "that they turned me out of thu consul's ofllce Here Is something I can do as well aa the best of them Then he advanced cautiously to the flag staff and knelt down beside It , sheltering himself behind the stucco balustrade which suriounded the roof Haidl ) had he done so. when a Jagged stone , evidently aimed at the Hag. whizzed over his head A cheer followed this effort , mingled with furious inalcdlPtlons on the "grldlion lag" and "Uncle Sam. " Jack peeped over the parapet In the btrcet below was a perfect sea of hum-in faces Hull ga/e had been attracted towcrd the flag , and the boy had only time to duck .bis bead when a perfect fusllndp of atones nnd sciaps of lead nnd iioi camp bujtlln urouncl him Several missiles smote the flagstaff and one | nucsted by the flag Itself , fell with cruel I weight upon his slioulder ' 'llicy won't bring that flag down with stones , ' solllonulrccl Jack rubbing Ihe first wound ho had ever received for bis country , with a sou of doleful grati fication "U will take powder and shot As yet I lie mob waa not prepared to fire upon th > > American standard , h&w- cvei , and after a few repetitions of the bombaidnicnt with gutter missiles they , tcmpoiaiily , at least , abandoned the at tack Till : SAILOR'S GUKST Hul only temporrrily Jack had begun to lull lilniKilf Into a reeling of security , when a yell from the ciovvd , louder than heretofore , cuu-iccl him to look over the parapet Half v\ny up the front of the vice cnn- Hiilale IIP caught sight of n man climb ing steadily , hand over hand , along the linden piping which ran tovurd the loof. The- men carried a gleaming knife In his tpc-th , and from his dress and manner of climbing , seemed to bo a salloi As ho sluov.ly ascended the onlook ers lent the all with tlie-lr plaudits "Up Is i inning to cut down tlio ling" thought Jack , whipping out his gleam ing revolver , nnd cocking It carefully "What a bcnro In-'ll get when ho finds mo on guard * * ' [ hey can't m > o him Troni Dm consul's olllce , anil I suppose they liavo forgotten all about tlio Hag anyhow * Come on my friend. I'm icady for )01l' " On came the Bailer , and presently a great roar from tlio populace ) announced that lie liad grasped the parapet with ono swarthy liund The next Instant Ills uptuined eyes looked Into the gleaming muzzle of an exception ally well-pollRhed seven-shooter 'Sacramento' " ejaculated the climber His face turned livid , and bin jaw dropped Thn knlfo slipped from between hla teeth and fell , twisting and turning , to tlm pave ment , amid thu breathless silence of thu cioud. "My friend , " said Jack In his best Span Uh , "I must ask you to go back tlm nay you eamo. 'Jhcro Is no admittance this way I w | | | gvo | you ten seconds to begin th return voyage " 'Iho luckless sailor took ono glance nt the flag ho had eomo so high to ae-Uo. and another at tlio siiKBcstlvo revolver Then with a furious o.Hli , he commenced to back tlm. n the leuilen piping. Up to Hint time net had been the hero of tlio mob Now they turned against him inub-fashlon , nnd execrations at hla cowardIce - Ice filled the air Stones cnmo thick and fast as well , and a numbei of them hit the poor wretch as ho half clambered down the piping This defeat wrought up the itotcis to fever heat. Jack , watching from his coign of vantage saw several men aimed with muskrtB otandlng In line before the coiiau Into. KiniNG ON nn : I'LAO He Aua right. ' IlaiiK1" went the mus kets , and a shower of lead whistled across the roof-top. Two or thrto bulluts pierced the flag , but , ttittcru ! and torn as It * as HIM gallant fleet ) of bunting still v , a veil nernnely from Its staff "Hooray ! " shouted little Jack Tslcott , bat hli thout wax lost In lua mighty roars of Iho crowd "Hang ! " went the munk'-ts ' oncu more , and this time their shot * sped with more effect The plagstaff was shorn across as though alaahcd with an axe Tor n brief pace the part from which floated the flag wavered In mld-alr. Jack lcapo-l to his feet , fearful leal it nhould fall on the Ride toward the strpc Hut the old ( l g Kppmcd to know and clli to Its inlurnl protector It tottered slil ways , and dropped Into the boy's ou stretche > d arms ' Viva1" ypiled Iho students "Down wl HIP gridiron' Long llvo Spain' ' ' The Mnok < > bad cleared awny and tlm d > llghtpd rioters saw no flag waving over tl consulate They opened their mouths for tremendous rhprr , but In place of a dire thcro Issued forth a howl of rage. KOI where the flagstaff lind bppii loareel stood th slender figure of n boy and In his hand h WBVe-d thesi reds of thp hated gridiron' ' lloornv for America' crleel Jack with nl thp vigor of his lungs ' lloornj for t'nclc Pam and fire Culm1' It was thru that the1 midde-ncd rlotera utterly forgot themsc'lvcM and did a died which afterward filled ttic-m with ulmiiii1. Thp ) gave the word to flro upon this do- fpnspless boy Once again thp guns rang out Jack Tal- roll shot through Iho leg Maggerod from his perch , aim toll lieavll ) behind the paia- pet. UVPII there , bowpver he ? found nerve e-nougli to raise his arm and give thp old flag one more whirl bcfotiIIP fainted away. " PLUCKY JACK A troop of horses , iluttc < rlng UP the street , with nailers drawn elil the ilolera BiMid- ding to right nnd left Chen I lie pollen Honed In upon the vice- consulate ami the dignified mnvor cnmo with nmnv excuses to make his peace with Americas lepresciita * tlvi-i "I dieplj re > grot these sad pve-nts , seuor" he said "It was the work of the- hot lu-i'ded inbble , headed by n few tnadi.ip students Particularly do 1 icgrel the unfor tunate loss of blood " "Does not donor know' * I am told that on join roof , while waving Ihe Amer ican flag a boj was thol down "A boj' eile-d the Americans and then Major T.ilccitt with n fnthei s Instinct guesseil whoso boy It was "Good heavens ! H must have been Jack " lie exclaimed , and lushing from tlio root' with the either Americans and even the dignified major behind him , ho mido for theloof I nder the parapet , conscious one-e more , but bleeding sorely , lay little Jack Tnlcott , thp flag was tightly clutched In bis hands mid Its tittered folds had been atnlued w Ith his blood A bnppj smile passed over bis wan face at the sight of tils father "Hooray , dad ! " ho cried "Those follows didn't get the flag after nil , did the ) ' " .N uiiii > TIM ; iixnv non v sinDM ( he Trle-K eif slljiplim Out of lle-r I'toi'K iiiiilpixnrcil nl l.iirnc. Toinui ) Tealo was Jusl fi joara old. > . Ills blrlhdiy ociuiied recently , buys the San 1'raiu lact ) Cull , but Inste-nd of having u good time to celc'brnta Hiicli a grand evenl he had to take < _ .uo of the baby Hla motliei hud gimp out on some c-rrands and left him nil alone with his lltllo sister Tommy fell very \e-rv Indly Ir , think su-li a Ihlng had lo Imp- pen on his birllnlay and besides little Nel lie erlrcl a ere at de-al Ho did not know what to do with her , of course ho loved her dcuily , but did not enjoy taking care of her when she was fietful As he stood at thp window Ned 111 own came out to play on HIP sidewalk ' Come out , Tommy1" he shouted "I can't' " shouted back the little prisoner. "I've got to 'tend the bub ) " "Shut the door tight , then she can't gel cut1 ' bcreatned Ne-d Tonyny thought It over He know nw o- about babies than Ned Hrovvn did Ho thought Nellie might burn he-ise-lf on the 11 stove , or pull the eovei off the table and t | break thu lamp , 01 Mime other thing that babks seem to love to do All' a blight Idea came Into Tommy'a hi'ad Ho ran quickly to the closet , got the hammer and tacks , and then went over to his baby alstc-r nnd eliovo three tacks ilghl Ibrougli her pietty HUlo diess , fastening 1'ci down tlghl to the floor1 ' 'I ' When Ibis w la donehe ran out of doora i * | as fast us his llttlo fat le-gs could carry him. In sneh a hum was ho to gel to play Hint he neglected to shut the door llghll ) In about an hour Tommy's mother re turned and much to her surprise the found her baby daughter out on the top step' ' Hotli her chubby anna and cUmplcd nei-lc vveic baio , for slip had no dross on Her inothei picked her up and cm I led her Into the sit ting loom There was the-little 'lock nulled to thelloni , In torn condition showing how very haul baby muat have struggled to got awny , and of course It had to be put Into the rag beg Tommy came In noon nfler and was eiy much astonished at what his mother told him "f never did bee sueh a baby , " IIP bald. "I thought you only wished to ke-pp hpr out 1 of mischief , and I felt mire the nails would do that ! " Tommy's mother shook her hcml ns much os to b-iy , "I nevei did ace suih u boy' ' " \ ( .mi , A 'SolubleI'rle - \itnrili-il t li llnlil Slxte-i-ll Vi-nrs ofI5 ' . The award of thebroiue medal of the Itoyal Drawing society of London this jear _ 1 | g a mutter of enthusiastic Interest to young \9 \ art students all over the- world Inasmuch j ] as It was won by u young woman only 1G J years of age , Miss Nellie Kuck j Since the oaillcst ( imagination of offerIng - Ing pil/cs for the best work along any t-\\en \ uitlstlc line , artists of undoubted genius fiom Canova nnd Tliorwalilse-n IIUVP en' ' ie > d Into eager competition for the niluini iges which such badge-s of distinction ranv In their train , fur wlie-ru tbpy do not iniiido yeais ot study under moat favorli condi tions , an thi-v so often do , the > ing to an aitlst Instant nnd widespread recognition ; and it ought to m-rve as a stimulus to tliu youngest art student In Philadelphia Hos- ton , Now York'or Donve-r , that jeniUi Is no bar sinister In such lionorj The draw Im ; which obtained fen \llB8 Kuck so distinguished i BIIPCCSS Is intltled The Young St Cecilia , " n ihnrmlngly composed ilGcouitlvc panel , chiefly Inti-i eating by icn- BOII of Ita oilglnal and novel manner of treat ment Pe-rhaps It was hei ovn sweet youth In the- blood that lead her Imagination away from the tiadltionally mature fVellln and made It dwell rnthei upon HIP heavily maid vvlie-n Inspiration Hist du.vm-d upon her youthful consciousness With a fnw rlciir , effective ) fitrokes she linn aehli-vi-d tin swi" ily furious fuco and pose of tin young saint , the well groui ed. luptl ) llbte nlng angola aliovp topped by convpntlminll/ed fig- flu whole- gives uie-B of Music and Poitiy ovldciuo ol finepnctli fancy excellent art and Is purtlculHrly strong In the deeornllvo ! mrniony of Its HIH-H Two yearn ago MSH | Kuc-k WIIB awarded Lord Li-lghtona prln- for hei chawing The Mormalil. " nnd IIP then always H' > ready to encoiiinge' youthful talent rnoinmi-ndod her to adopt tin- artist n profession In fact , "Tho Young St Cecilia repro-1 hcntu her third SUPCC-HH an last year abioD - talnc-d the Ge-oigo Ki-Uvvlcli a prUei for an Illustration of "Undine ' nous Your Hack Actia ? Make the klJ- neys strung rilliV caiisc- tlickidneto Ultfr all uric ncld and oilier , urlttit from Ilie nlrvx ) Healthy KUncys make l JJ j > iire blood , gHj Ur. hobbs Spuragiu KUney I'lIU * cure ItlKuntatlim , ( lout , I'r/cinu , ffp Ananila , I'impln , l ! dlllouJliltlic' | * i-T UM.aie , Malaria , | UcUcU . KiOiiry ( Ja I'ulnf.Drcpiy.l'aln In tliertoinfii. _ ODD I'rciiucnt Urlinllon , liiflaiiiiiiollonol oftl jf KWn y , etc. Hndom by I'hytl. * rlausniiil DriiBRi'l" jo cents a Ixi * rpl Sample I'dls on J Vuluablcliaok free , ! 2 T.I KH t l'/r.l.ln4t fl j. llr IM1t I Illlo tlttr I'llliiloit'ltir/i' Only KHouttu Ilul. " MORPHINE HABIT UIIUISSU A , WMAHINTir CURED .or * , s. Ji. corrfT-iK PAINLESS GPBUMI ANTIDOTE ORIGINAL AND ONLY GENUINE REMEDY , Discovered In 1868. "TIIERUKI" Uook Fret ) . Office 312,78 Monroe Street , P. 0. Drawer 663.